Pope Francis calls slain journalist James Foley's parents

Pope Francis called the parents of slain journalist James Foley on Thursday afternoon to console them their loss, the Vatican said.

In the telephone call, the pope offered his condolences to John and Diane Foley of Rochester, New Hampshire, and assured them of his prayers, a Vatican spokesman said.

A gruesome video released Tuesday showed James Foley being beheaded by an Islamic militant. The Islamic State of Syria and Iraq, also known as ISIS, said the execution was in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes on the Islamic group's positions in northern Iraq.